I have been very depressed for the last 4 months. My father died 5 years ago on Dec 11 and my Mom had a heart attack on Dec 26 2004. I have severe depression at Christmas. Rob and Amber, you have both lifted my spirits with both of you and this song. I smiled and giggled all through this song. Thank you for lifting my spirits and making me smile today.
I'm happy you've found something to make you happy. I get it, though. I hope you have a good season this year hanging out with Jordan and Amber, along with the rest of us 🙂🙂.
Christmas is a depressing time for many of us, seeing so many Happy people is hard. Just remember your Family are watching over you and Faith that God will see you thru
@@foreveralone11wWe’ve listed to so much in the past two years, it’s called sometimes disease 😂😂it hard getting old I don’t think I could remember them all 🙋🏻♀️
I seen them play this song at a outdoor concert at the base of the World Trade Center. The sound echoed off of the buildings, amazing! A year later, the towers were gone.
I remember being a little girl stopping and starting this song on the turntable so I could write all the words down. I played the hell out of this song with I was a kid. From the soundtrack of my life, remember where I lived, the elementary school I went to, the grade I was in etc.
My cool older brother was always buying albums and playing them (very loud) until our Dad came home each evening. BS&T's was one of his favorites. I really loved this track and "You've Made Me So Very Happy."
"Ride a painted pony on the spinning wheel rii-ii-ide" he's singing about a Merry-go-round and using it as a metaphor for life. Great reaction to 60s-70s legendary band that had fun fusing jazz with rock!! You already did You've made me so very Happy. Next song please try When I die.
In 1966, Canadian singer Joni Mitchell composed “The Circle Game” about a carousel metaphor for life. In 1968, Canadian singer David Clayton-Thomas composed “Spinning Wheel” about that metaphor, too.
Fun fact: The man who discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and produced their first three albums, Al Kooper, was one of the original members of Blood Sweat & Tears. He left the band just before they became famous after playing on their first album in 1968 titled, "Child is Father to the Man". He then became an A&R man with Columbia Records and continued doing session work playing piano on records for bands like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and The Who. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1972 and discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd when he saw them playing in a local club he frequented. He signed them to his own private record label, Sounds of the South, which he sold to MCA records and he produced their first 3 albums which included the huge hits "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free bird".
Wow! that's some awesome trivia! It's always interesting to find out about the history that members of bands and artists shared with each other. Thanks!
I met Al Kooper as a guest to his Brownstone home in Boston in 2005 or 2006. I was touring with a band called SHIMMER and Al had caught wind of them and was a fan of the trio. He was a very gracious host, had a spread of finger foods for us. His place was decorated - even the bathroom - with photos of many musicians from different decades. He took us down to his basement home studio and busted out the 2" tape original recording of Lynyrd Skynyrd in a dusty box. He said he "stole" it as compensation for getting screwed [out of royalties?] by the record company. Was a real treat to have had that unique experience.
@@arjaylee Yes, I was going to mention that also, he played the organ on Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone". The man has quite a history in music going all the way back to the late 50s. His first professional gig as a musician was with the band, The Royal Teens who had a hit with the song, "Short Shorts" although he didn't play on the record, he was part of their touring lineup. He was also a writer on the song, "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
Ever heard of a band called Chase? Five trumpets, bass guitar and drums plus singers. Lots of great trumpet solos. Unfortunately, they died in a small plane crash so only had a few years of celebrity.
@@jamesanderson5268 There was also a one hit band with horns called the Ides of March with their song Vehicle who sounded exactly like Blood, Sweat and Tears.
This song describes how you should strive to live your life---free. Which means you have to constantly "let go." Not too many folks know how to do that. But letting go of everything, your thoughts, your hopes, your loves, your hates---just stay calm and in the quiet of your brain experience how lovely just being alive truly can be. Avoid distraction. Ahhhhh. Take a deep breath.
The flute-sounding music at the end is traditional calliope music of an old-timey carousel (merry-go-round), aka riding "the painted ponies on a spinning wheel ride", a metaphor for life.
..."Class of 76"...Ride a painted pony let the spinning wheel turn...It's a song about life...like being on a Merry Go Round at a Carnival....That's what the flute at the end was bringing home....Carnival Music....
Back in 1965 I was 15 and went to see my first live band in the basement of an Italian church in Hamilton, Ontario. It was David Clayton Thomas and the Bossmen. Great voice, great band. Just before Covid got to see him again at a free outdoor show in Westdale village in Hamilton. Guy still has the voice. This was his opening number.
Everytime I hear bands like Blood, Sweat and Tears I remember the line in "The Blues Brother's" where one of the band members said "That band could turn goat piss into gasoline". I think that is so apprapo for BST. Such a strong "wall" of sound for their rhythm section and such solid song construction.
The Spinning Wheel is a Carousel (Merry Go Round), hence the painted pony. This was one of their greatest hits and I love Amber's reaction to the horns! Jay was having a great time too. So nice to see y'all react to this. I was pretty sure you'd love it.
We did a whole marching band show my sophomore year in high school of Blood Sweat and Tears songs. Spinning Wheel was one of the songs we did. It was an epic show, even 25 years later it would still rock! The other songs in that set that I remember were "And When I Die", "God Bless The Child", "Lucretia Mac Evil", and "You've Made Me So Very Happy". So many great songs! Another one to check out on top of the ones I just listed is "Go Down Gambling".
Knew You Guys would Love this one! Horns galore and J likes the gritty singers. Soul & Jazz too! An Old-time BS&T Classic... I'd say their Biggest Hit! Great Fun & Great Reaction. :)
You can have no idea how popular this song was. I was just a kid but it was everywhere. Walking down the street, coming through open windows in nice weather, cars passing by, all over the radio, you could hardly not hear it. Great stuff. Sometimes, I actually miss those old top forty radio stations. Good one as always, y'all.
David Clayton-Thomas. What a voice! Folk singer Judy Collins recommended DCT to Blood, Sweat and Tears after Al Kooper left. They went on two have three number two hits and charted another 7 on Billboard. BST did not last very long as a hitmaker, but they burned so very bright. They have had several reformations but never quite captured the magic with new material after 1975.
What hits you near the end is the reference to the calliope and the original spinning wheel with the horses and magical creatures brightly painted going round and round......❤ the perfect finish! Taking everyone back to their childhood! So many Great songs from this amazing versatile band! Let the Fun Begin!!
I've asked for this song sooooooo many times. First because of how great it is, second because of the horns for Amber, and third for the cowbell for Jay. THANK YOU!!!!! I love love love this song...my favorite by Blood, Sweat and Tears.
When I was a young kid in the 70’s my parents had this album; have loved Spinning Wheel ever since. My child mind made me think of the circus when I heard it 😂 The song from the same album “You Make Me So Very Hapoy”; makes me think of when my son was a baby; kept coming on the radio when I was feeding him his bottle; it was weird and beautiful ❤️
One of my favorite bands, ever. David Clayton-Thomas wrote and sang this song, and the song and David are in the Canadian music hall of fame, Canadian songwriters hall of fame, and he is on the Canadian walk of fame.
Blood, Sweat & Tears brought jazz, soul, big band, and pop into rock'n'roll. Lead singer David Clayton-Thomas gets a lot of the acclaim for his time there but the whole band was outstanding. They had some original material ("Lucretia MacEvil") and some from other great artists like Laura Nyro ("And When I Die"), Branda Holloway ("You've Made Me So Very Happy") and Carole King ("Hi-De-Ho").
What a rabbit hole! You can't go wrong with these guys! They had the best horn section and vocals of any jazz rock band. And, overall the tightest and most creative. Songs like Hi De Ho, God bless the child, Lucretia MacEvil, really bring out the jazz and soul sides. 'Sometimes in Winter' has a softer, more ballad-like texture, with another singer, aside from David Clayton Thomas, (Steve Katz) doing a great job, and his subdued vocal talents.
BS&T is Simply. The. Best!! All are classily trained musicians. The jazz component of their music is what hooked me from the beginning. Saw them in concert many times. Song by song album by album they are unmatched. Don’t wait so long to react to them again. Definitely, my favorite group of all time.
I grew up with this band listening to them from the 60s. The lead singer, David Clayton Thomas, was so well known from commercials, and other avenues where he could be heard that he was simply known as the voice. Happily, I got to see them in the mid 90s and they were fantastic, having never seen them before I was surprised at how large a band they were, great horns. Thanks for a great review and a trip down memory lane
The lead singer for this is David-Clayton Thomas he also did many songs with them. He is an amazing talent. This group and many others from the era were/are great to grow up with.
This was my favorite group growing up.Bought all of their albums & wore out my LP player. Seeing them live was a thrill for me because their sound was like no other, sure their were other bands with horn sections, but no one had a front man like David- Clayton- Thamas. He was a great rock & blues singer, one of our greatest. Im 70 years old & feel the same way. Their greatest song I always thought was God Bless The Child ( studio version). A true masterpiece. You just started the great songs this band put out here are others- Lisa Listen To Me, More & More, Smiling Phases, Go Down Gamblin, Lucretia McEvil, Hi De Ho, And When I Die, Something Comin On, John The Baptist (Holy John), Redemption, Take Me In Your Arms, Mama Gets High. Love your reactions Amber & Jay. I watch them every day. You two make me smile all the time.
I was a teen, still at home, but we stayed up to watch SNL, and my b-in law was all excited when BS&T was the musical guest. Id heard of them but didnt kno them. I came away thinking, these guys taught Chicago everything they know!
This was my aunt's favorite song when I was... 7? She died of cancer a while back, but this song always brings back her crazy teenage energy and joy. And even without that personal aspect, what a genius arrangement and performance. Jay, it's not "Robin Hood" it's small town carnival, from a time before video.
As a teenager, BS & T was my first introduction to jazz/funk/rock. Chicago also. I think I wore the grooves out on this (BS & T) album. Classic. Thank you!
Talk about a band doing a complete 180 degree turn. The first incarnation of this band under Al Kooper had a decidedly bluesy feel and I really loved their first album. However, it took me all of 2 minutes to change my mind when this version of BS&T with incredibly talented Canadian vocalist David Clayton-Thomas debuted on their second album. They went off in an entirely new direction with the big band and jazzy sound that defined their music for years to come. I love this song and the entire album for that matter. What a set of pipes David Clayton-Thomas had, so much soul!
One horn-friendly group that still awaits your ears: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. You can start off with "I Played the Fool" "Talk to Me" and "I Don't Want to Go Home"
It's pretty important to hear "When I Die." It's Blood Sweat and Tears' masterpiece. It might end up on your "kicked" bucket list. I'll make sure it will be played at my funeral.
BST has always been one of my favorite groups. Great horns. Remember turning several people on to them. One of my favorite songs is God Bless the Child, a must listen. Great site you guys have, love to see your reactions. 67 year old here, nice to see younger people listening to older music and enjoying it. You guys take care.
In an interview Lew Soloff, the late, great trumpet soloist, said that he played what he thought was a great solo. The record producer said "That won't do Lew. the audience we are aiming at wants to start with the melody." If you listen to the first few notes of Lew's solo he states the melody before he begins to improvise.
They were my first concert, I was 14 and with my older cousin. Our seats were on the side of the auditorium where we could also see backstage. DCT was taking a break backstage while the band was playing. I noticed that he was hot boxing a joint (I didn’t know what it was). I pointed and alerted my cousin that he was trying to smoke a whole cigarette before going back in stage. He just looked at me strange, smiled, and simply said “yea.” 😜 then he went back on stage and killed it😀
Spinning Wheel was a metaphor for the cycles of events we go through in life. Written and sung by David Clayton Thomas. The line "Ride the Painted Pony" was inspired by Joni Mitchell's song "The Circle Game" which has " "Painted Ponies Going Up and Down". The horns are fantastic, along with all the other beautiful instruments. David's vocals are fabulous. Now you need to go back to The Tragically Hip.."New Orleans is Sinking" please. ❄️🎅🎉🎁🤶🎄 Great reaction. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️❤️🇨🇦 🇨🇦
It was a great one. Takes you back to your childhood, up and down on a pony on the musical spinning wheel at the circus !! WOW. Happy memories with this song.
This song and "When I Die" are my favorites from BST. Give that one a reaction, too. By the way, the spinning wheel is a carousel where you ride on painted horses. Of course, it's also a metaphor for life with its ups and downs, its changes, its turns, its spins. Whatever life throws at you, enjoy the ride!
I've heard pretty much every song that you react to and I gotta say.....it's almost like I'm hearing them for the first time each time I watch one of your vids, your enthusiasm is so much fun to watch!!! I envy you that you can hear so many great songs in such a short time when I had to wait years...
This album was one of my dad's first purchases when we had our first turntable, and I heard this classic song so much I tired of it. However, I love hearing it again after all these years. The fusion of music genres was eclectic at the time for me. Genius.
Love watching your channel when you get a song like this that us old folks know for a fact that it will blow you away. This was a hook from the get go ✌️
"Spinning Wheel" was written by vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, arranged by saxophonist Fred Lipsius, and produced by James William Guercio. In our 2015 interview with Clayton-Thomas, he explained: "I came up with the song just picking it away on a guitar when I found some chord changes I liked. As for the lyrics, everybody was getting so serious about 'The Revolution' and everything else in those days. It was just kind of a way to say, 'Lighten up people. Take it easy. It's all going to come full circle.' And it did. Ten years later, we went from 'The Revolution' to Ronald Reagan." The "Spinning Wheel" is an intriguing metaphor for the cycles of events we go through in life. There is also carousel imagery in the song, as David Clayton-Thomas references the carousel horses in the line, "Ride the painted pony." This was inspired by a Joni Mitchell song called "The Circle Game," where Mitchell sings about seasonal cycles and brings in the carousel with the line, "The painted ponies go up and down." This marked the first instance of a Joni Mitchell influence in a popular song. Like Clayton-Thomas, Mitchell is from Canada, and he heard her work long before most. Mitchell didn't release her first album until 1968, but in the years prior she developed a reputation as an insightful songwriter and performer, and Clayton-Thomas was a big fan. (Songfacts.com)
These guys and Chicago really knew how to use horns in a rock n roll band. BS&T had a few that rocked, but their best music was when they produced songs like "Spinning Wheel". Must reactions fome here include "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "And When I Die", "Lucrecia MacEvil", "God Bless The Child", and "Hi-De-Ho". You'll love them all.
There is soooo much more for you to discover by this band! I am thrilled that you did this! This was one of my father's favorite groups. I have very distinct memories that always come to mind when I hear this group....snippets of video replays in my mind of my dad dancing around the living room in his socks, fresh from work with his tie still on, fingers snapping and feet moving this way and that as he spun and twisted his way through the songs.
You might be interested to hear them do Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" from that same album. But if you haven't heard "You've Made Me So Very Happy", their first hit, then that should be the next one from them.
I haven't heard this song for a long time but I still remember the all the words thank you have a wonderful and happy new year to you all beautiful family 💖 💓 💖 💓 💖
These guys came out the same time as Chicago, and they both were Bands with Big Horn sections, so there was a huge rivalry for a while, until Chicago just passed them by. Blood Sweat and Tears was a really talented group, maybe more talented than Chicago. They had about a 5-year run of some really big hit songs, "Spinning Wheel" being their first hit song that started it all for them.
Such an amazing throwback to my childhood. I even got to play a version of it in marching band in my freshman year.. It was fun trying to march in 3/4 time. GREAT memories and such a GREAT song. Sigh.
I have been listening to this album for as long as I can remember. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year. So I’m really glad you reacted to the album version instead of the single version which has a brief electric guitar bridge instead of the horn solo. My favorite song on this album is “Sometimes In Winter” with Steve Katz on lead vocal. You will need to hear Blood, Sweat & Tears live. “Sometimes In Winter” and so is “When I Die”. You get the full appreciation of David Clayton-Thomas’ stage presence.
What goes up must come down! Riding the painted pony on the Merry-Go-Round! As a kid listening to this song on the radio, I got the meaning right away. Thanks for reacting!
I love your reaction to this song and band. I saw BS&T on March 9,1970 as a Sophomore in Sacramento. What a marvelous concert of perfection live. David Clayton Thomas was such a great vocalist with a real band of professionals.
I have been very depressed for the last 4 months. My father died 5 years ago on Dec 11 and my Mom had a heart attack on Dec 26 2004. I have severe depression at Christmas. Rob and Amber, you have both lifted my spirits with both of you and this song. I smiled and giggled all through this song. Thank you for lifting my spirits and making me smile today.
😘
They still are with you in your heart and those memories never die. May God bless and keep you. My heart goes out to you and yours. ❤
I'm happy you've found something to make you happy. I get it, though. I hope you have a good season this year hanging out with Jordan and Amber, along with the rest of us 🙂🙂.
They are still with you Keri! ♥️♥️
Christmas is a depressing time for many of us, seeing so many Happy people is hard. Just remember your Family are watching over you and Faith that God will see you thru
“You’ve made me so very happy” and “When I die” are 2 BST must listens! ❤
they did “You’ve made me so very happy” Jul 14 2022
@@surlechapeau yup. They sure did! I even commented on it 🤷🏻♀️ oops. Lol
Its hell getting old… 🤦🏻♀️
@@foreveralone11w right there with ya ! Lol
God Bless the Child
@@foreveralone11wWe’ve listed to so much in the past two years, it’s called sometimes disease 😂😂it hard getting old I don’t think I could remember them all 🙋🏻♀️
Lead singer David Clayton Thomas is another Canadian artist showcased on the Rob Squad Reactions
What a voice, David Clayton-Thomas had some pipes
Has.
He’s 80 now and is still performing B,S&T songs. Just had a concert here in Connecticut earlier this month.
It's funny because the music critics hated him as a vocalist.
One of Canada's finest.
@@gregrambo606 sums up critics in general
The flutes/clarinets/woodwinds providing the calliope effect for a carousel - I always found that to be particularly creative
Very underrated group. They should have been put in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame years ago.
"underrated"??!!
I seen them play this song at a outdoor concert at the base of the World Trade Center. The sound echoed off of the buildings, amazing! A year later, the towers were gone.
3000%.
They won the Grammy for best album of the year.
Absolutely!
I could spend all day watching Amber's sheer joy and dancing to music. Thank you for that!
Love Jay's facial expressions, Amber groovin" - Blood, Sweat and Tears - just enjoying the moment and groovin"!!!!! Priceless ✌❤
The side eye when the cowbell kicked in 😁
Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon….
I remember being a little girl stopping and starting this song on the turntable so I could write all the words down. I played the hell out of this song with I was a kid. From the soundtrack of my life, remember where I lived, the elementary school I went to, the grade I was in etc.
A badass tune ain't it! 🤟🤟
@@jeffreyflint6286 fo sho 🎶
My cool older brother was always buying albums and playing them (very loud) until our Dad came home each evening. BS&T's was one of his favorites. I really loved this track and "You've Made Me So Very Happy."
We are 'of an age' - I danced around the house to this.
@@jeffreyflint6286 Hell yeah it is!! 💯👌
"Ride a painted pony on the spinning wheel rii-ii-ide" he's singing about a Merry-go-round and using it as a metaphor for life. Great reaction to 60s-70s legendary band that had fun fusing jazz with rock!! You already did You've made me so very Happy. Next song please try When I die.
Thank you for pointing that out. That's why at the end of the song you hear the music you hear on a carousel .
Yes, and then at the end they play carousel music, the stuff Jay wants to wear Robin Hood tights for. LOL
In 1966, Canadian singer Joni Mitchell composed “The Circle Game” about a carousel metaphor for life. In 1968, Canadian singer David Clayton-Thomas composed “Spinning Wheel” about that metaphor, too.
@@straycatttt2766 Absolutely LOVE Joni! 😍
Perfectly said!
that look on Jay's face when the cowbell hit-priceless!
Fun fact: The man who discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and produced their first three albums, Al Kooper, was one of the original members of Blood Sweat & Tears. He left the band just before they became famous after playing on their first album in 1968 titled, "Child is Father to the Man". He then became an A&R man with Columbia Records and continued doing session work playing piano on records for bands like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and The Who. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1972 and discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd when he saw them playing in a local club he frequented. He signed them to his own private record label, Sounds of the South, which he sold to MCA records and he produced their first 3 albums which included the huge hits "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free bird".
Wow! that's some awesome trivia! It's always interesting to find out about the history that members of bands and artists shared with each other. Thanks!
I met Al Kooper as a guest to his Brownstone home in Boston in 2005 or 2006. I was touring with a band called SHIMMER and Al had caught wind of them and was a fan of the trio. He was a very gracious host, had a spread of finger foods for us. His place was decorated - even the bathroom - with photos of many musicians from different decades. He took us down to his basement home studio and busted out the 2" tape original recording of Lynyrd Skynyrd in a dusty box. He said he "stole" it as compensation for getting screwed [out of royalties?] by the record company. Was a real treat to have had that unique experience.
Also the iconic Keyboard lick on Like a Rolling Stone
@@arjaylee Yes, I was going to mention that also, he played the organ on Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone". The man has quite a history in music going all the way back to the late 50s. His first professional gig as a musician was with the band, The Royal Teens who had a hit with the song, "Short Shorts" although he didn't play on the record, he was part of their touring lineup. He was also a writer on the song, "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
@@3rdRockRider Thats cool. Great story, thanks for sharing!
I don't think Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded a bad song. They are all pure gold.
Bought their album back in the sixties. Not enough people know about them.
The recorder (flute) coda was the German folk ditty "O Du Lieber Augustin". It was added because a recording engineer erased the original ending.
This was one of the first albums I ever bought with my own money. And It's still great music 50+ years later.
I know the feeling! Those were the days!!!!
It was in our family's collection. A brilliant LP.
Still playing my album.
I was gifted this one in the early 80’s with a pile of other albums that a hippy friend of my parents decided he didn’t listen to anymore. Love it.
Yep! Like a lot of things, it means even more to us when we are willing to spend our own allowance on records!
You NEVER forget Spinnin’ Wheel. Ever. 🎶❤️
Jay & Amber, that's Lew Soloff on the best trumpet solo of all-time!!! You'll LOVE their "And When I Die" !!!!
Ever heard of a band called Chase? Five trumpets, bass guitar and drums plus singers. Lots of great trumpet solos. Unfortunately, they died in a small plane crash so only had a few years of celebrity.
@@jamesanderson5268 There was also a one hit band with horns called the Ides of March with their song Vehicle who sounded exactly like Blood, Sweat and Tears.
And When I Die, good choice, written by Laura Nyro
I never saw BS&T but I saw Lew Soloff with Chuck Mangione, that was quite a show.
@@jamesanderson5268 - Sure did. I attended a jazz clinic with Bill Chase teaching around 1972.
He was otherworldly.
More Blood, Sweat and Tears! “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy!” and “Lucretia MacEvil”! “And When I Die”! Hi-De-Ho!
they reacted to "You've Made Me So Very Happy" on Jul 14, 2022. Great suggestions!
@@surlechapeau I figured they did one of these. Hopefully they keep going!
Hi-De-Ho! is an absolute must listen
Another for "And When I Die"!
I just loved your reaction in the first 3 seconds! The painted ponies are a carousel. ❤
The beat is jamming! Love it! The lead singer can saaang! You don’t want it to end. Awesome!
Robyn is spot on! And Rob’s Robin Hood music is carousel music.
This song describes how you should strive to live your life---free. Which means you have to constantly "let go." Not too many folks know how to do that. But letting go of everything, your thoughts, your hopes, your loves, your hates---just stay calm and in the quiet of your brain experience how lovely just being alive truly can be. Avoid distraction. Ahhhhh. Take a deep breath.
Blood Sweat and Tears is a total vibe. Love them!
Iconic rock voice, David Clayton Thomas is a legend.
The flute-sounding music at the end is traditional calliope music of an old-timey carousel (merry-go-round), aka riding "the painted ponies on a spinning wheel ride", a metaphor for life.
This is an iconic song...in many movies etc. Amazing!
I've been requesting this one ever since I learned Amber loves horns! So excited to see this reaction!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to their album rendition of "God Bless The Child"! I guarantee you will be most impressed! R&B/Jazz.
BS&T were called "A jazz band that plays rock", and Chicago was called "A Rock band that plays jazz"!! I LOVED growing up in this era of music!!
..."Class of 76"...Ride a painted pony let the spinning wheel turn...It's a song about life...like being on a Merry Go Round at a Carnival....That's what the flute at the end was bringing home....Carnival Music....
Back in 1965 I was 15 and went to see my first live band in the basement of an Italian church in Hamilton, Ontario. It was David Clayton Thomas and the Bossmen. Great voice, great band. Just before Covid got to see him again at a free outdoor show in Westdale village in Hamilton. Guy still has the voice. This was his opening number.
For being 81 is just an amazing thing.
Watching Amber bounce around like a giddy girl who just got a pony ... priceless!
Everytime I hear bands like Blood, Sweat and Tears I remember the line in "The Blues Brother's" where one of the band members said "That band could turn goat piss into gasoline". I think that is so apprapo for BST. Such a strong "wall" of sound for their rhythm section and such solid song construction.
Great music memories hearing this song.
The Spinning Wheel is a Carousel (Merry Go Round), hence the painted pony. This was one of their greatest hits and I love Amber's reaction to the horns! Jay was having a great time too. So nice to see y'all react to this. I was pretty sure you'd love it.
We did a whole marching band show my sophomore year in high school of Blood Sweat and Tears songs. Spinning Wheel was one of the songs we did. It was an epic show, even 25 years later it would still rock! The other songs in that set that I remember were "And When I Die", "God Bless The Child", "Lucretia Mac Evil", and "You've Made Me So Very Happy". So many great songs! Another one to check out on top of the ones I just listed is "Go Down Gambling".
My high school marching band didn't do BST but we did ToP one year and EW&F the next year. It would've been right around the same time.
Knew You Guys would Love this one! Horns galore and J likes the gritty singers. Soul & Jazz too! An Old-time BS&T Classic... I'd say their Biggest Hit! Great Fun & Great Reaction. :)
You can have no idea how popular this song was. I was just a kid but it was everywhere. Walking down the street, coming through open windows in nice weather, cars passing by, all over the radio, you could hardly not hear it. Great stuff. Sometimes, I actually miss those old top forty radio stations.
Good one as always, y'all.
You gotta do their cover of "God Bless the Child". It's classic!
It is fantastic
Indeed!!!🔥🔥🔥
I don't think BS&T wrote this song, but they sure arranged and played the fire out of it!
@@davidmandelstamm8725 It's an old Billie Holiday classic. But their rendition of it is the best I've ever heard!!!
Imagine.... seeing them in Concert... mid-70s. I got to. It was AWEsome. We were soooo lucky!
David Clayton-Thomas. What a voice! Folk singer Judy Collins recommended DCT to Blood, Sweat and Tears after Al Kooper left. They went on two have three number two hits and charted another 7 on Billboard. BST did not last very long as a hitmaker, but they burned so very bright. They have had several reformations but never quite captured the magic with new material after 1975.
What hits you near the end is the reference to the calliope and the original spinning wheel with the horses and magical creatures brightly painted going round and round......❤ the perfect finish! Taking everyone back to their childhood! So many Great songs from this amazing versatile band! Let the Fun Begin!!
I've asked for this song sooooooo many times. First because of how great it is, second because of the horns for Amber, and third for the cowbell for Jay. THANK YOU!!!!! I love love love this song...my favorite by Blood, Sweat and Tears.
One of my fav groups in high school. Excellent!! One of the best horn sections. David Clayton Thomas, one of the best voices ever.
When I was a young kid in the 70’s my parents had this album; have loved Spinning Wheel ever since. My child mind made me think of the circus when I heard it 😂 The song from the same album “You Make Me So Very Hapoy”; makes me think of when my son was a baby; kept coming on the radio when I was feeding him his bottle; it was weird and beautiful ❤️
Me too!
One of my favorite bands, ever. David Clayton-Thomas wrote and sang this song, and the song and David are in the Canadian music hall of fame, Canadian songwriters hall of fame, and he is on the Canadian walk of fame.
Blood, Sweat & Tears brought jazz, soul, big band, and pop into rock'n'roll. Lead singer David Clayton-Thomas gets a lot of the acclaim for his time there but the whole band was outstanding. They had some original material ("Lucretia MacEvil") and some from other great artists like Laura Nyro ("And When I Die"), Branda Holloway ("You've Made Me So Very Happy") and Carole King ("Hi-De-Ho").
What a rabbit hole! You can't go wrong with these guys! They had the best horn section and vocals of any jazz rock band. And, overall the tightest and most creative. Songs like Hi De Ho, God bless the child, Lucretia MacEvil, really bring out the jazz and soul sides. 'Sometimes in Winter' has a softer, more ballad-like texture, with another singer, aside from David Clayton Thomas, (Steve Katz) doing a great job, and his subdued vocal talents.
This is my favorite BS&T song
.
Check out Three Dog Night.. Mama's & Papa's, Lovin' Spoonful, The Association
The whole Three Dog catalog is amazing
The Association for sure!
It was Blood Sweat and Tears that paved the way for bands like Chicago to bring horns into Rock and Roll.
BS&T is Simply. The. Best!! All are classily trained musicians. The jazz component of their music is what hooked me from the beginning. Saw them in concert many times. Song by song album by album they are unmatched. Don’t wait so long to react to them again. Definitely, my favorite group of all time.
I grew up with this band listening to them from the 60s. The lead singer, David Clayton Thomas, was so well known from commercials, and other avenues where he could be heard that he was simply known as the voice. Happily, I got to see them in the mid 90s and they were fantastic, having never seen them before I was surprised at how large a band they were, great horns. Thanks for a great review and a trip down memory lane
THIS is the true potential of the great horn bands of the late 60s and 70s. The musicianship is incredible
The lead singer for this is David-Clayton Thomas he also did many songs with them. He is an amazing talent. This group and many others from the era were/are great to grow up with.
Their lyrics "Drop all your troubles / by the river side" pay homage to: "I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield / down by the river side ... " 😸♡
This was my favorite group growing up.Bought all of their albums & wore out my LP player. Seeing them live was a thrill for me because their sound was like no other, sure their were other bands with horn sections, but no one had a front man like David- Clayton- Thamas. He was a great rock & blues singer, one of our greatest. Im 70 years old & feel the same way. Their greatest song I always thought was God Bless The Child ( studio version). A true masterpiece. You just started the great songs this band put out here are others- Lisa Listen To Me, More & More, Smiling Phases, Go Down Gamblin, Lucretia McEvil, Hi De Ho, And When I Die, Something Comin On, John The Baptist (Holy John), Redemption, Take Me In Your Arms, Mama Gets High. Love your reactions Amber & Jay. I watch them every day. You two make me smile all the time.
Peace on earth / Little drummer boy with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
I was a teen, still at home, but we stayed up to watch SNL, and my b-in law was all excited when BS&T was the musical guest. Id heard of them but didnt kno them. I came away thinking, these guys taught Chicago everything they know!
This was my aunt's favorite song when I was... 7? She died of cancer a while back, but this song always brings back her crazy teenage energy and joy. And even without that personal aspect, what a genius arrangement and performance. Jay, it's not "Robin Hood" it's small town carnival, from a time before video.
As a teenager, BS & T was my first introduction to jazz/funk/rock. Chicago also. I think I wore the grooves out on this (BS & T) album. Classic. Thank you!
I feel blessed to have experienced bands such as this! Different generation and super awesome music!
Talk about a band doing a complete 180 degree turn. The first incarnation of this band under Al Kooper had a decidedly bluesy feel and I really loved their first album. However, it took me all of 2 minutes to change my mind when this version of BS&T with incredibly talented Canadian vocalist David Clayton-Thomas debuted on their second album.
They went off in an entirely new direction with the big band and jazzy sound that defined their music for years to come. I love this song and the entire album for that matter. What a set of pipes David Clayton-Thomas had, so much soul!
Unbelievable band love these guys! Now you guys need to do more Bee Gees but 1960’s and early 70’s
Yes!!!
Yep
It's weird that they like the Bee Gees so much, yet they haven't even started to explore their great '60s catalog.
@@tombeyerlein3813 Or as I call it, the Era of the *real* BeeGees
@@sjw5797 You got it. I was a huge BeeGees fan until they went disco.
One horn-friendly group that still awaits your ears: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. You can start off with "I Played the Fool" "Talk to Me" and "I Don't Want to Go Home"
It's pretty important to hear "When I Die." It's Blood Sweat and Tears' masterpiece. It might end up on your "kicked" bucket list. I'll make sure it will be played at my funeral.
BST has always been one of my favorite groups. Great horns. Remember turning several people on to them. One of my favorite songs is God Bless the Child, a must listen. Great site you guys have, love to see your reactions. 67 year old here, nice to see younger people listening to older music and enjoying it. You guys take care.
Great reaction! I haven’t heard this song in years. I’m glad you liked it. Love your cap!
In an interview Lew Soloff, the late, great trumpet soloist, said that he played what he thought was a great solo. The record producer said "That won't do Lew. the audience we are aiming at wants to start with the melody." If you listen to the first few notes of Lew's solo he states the melody before he begins to improvise.
They were my first concert, I was 14 and with my older cousin. Our seats were on the side of the auditorium where we could also see backstage. DCT was taking a break backstage while the band was playing. I noticed that he was hot boxing a joint (I didn’t know what it was). I pointed and alerted my cousin that he was trying to smoke a whole cigarette before going back in stage. He just looked at me strange, smiled, and simply said “yea.” 😜 then he went back on stage and killed it😀
I knew that Amber would LOVE this one for the horns! And I knew Jordan would love it for the cowbell! Great selection!!!
Spinning Wheel was a metaphor for the cycles of events we go through in life. Written and sung by David Clayton Thomas. The line "Ride the Painted Pony" was inspired by Joni Mitchell's
song "The Circle Game" which has " "Painted Ponies Going Up and Down".
The horns are fantastic, along with all the other beautiful instruments. David's vocals are fabulous. Now you need to go back to The Tragically Hip.."New Orleans is Sinking" please. ❄️🎅🎉🎁🤶🎄
Great reaction. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️❤️🇨🇦 🇨🇦
I thought it referred to a merry go round.
You, guys, HAVE to give a chance to God Bless the Child, from this same album!!! You gonna love the horns and the turns of the arrangement!!!!!!!
I remember seeing them in concert in the early 70s. What a great show.
It was a great one. Takes you back to your childhood, up and down on a pony on the musical spinning wheel at the circus !! WOW. Happy memories with this song.
React to more BST. They are AWESOME! Soul, rock, horns, and great vocals. Merry Christmas!
A song about the Wheel of Life, with the Merry-Go-Round calliope music at the end to emphasize the point. Love your guys reaction to it!
This song and "When I Die" are my favorites from BST. Give that one a reaction, too. By the way, the spinning wheel is a carousel where you ride on painted horses. Of course, it's also a metaphor for life with its ups and downs, its changes, its turns, its spins. Whatever life throws at you, enjoy the ride!
I've heard pretty much every song that you react to and I gotta say.....it's almost like I'm hearing them for the first time each time I watch one of your vids, your enthusiasm is so much fun to watch!!! I envy you that you can hear so many great songs in such a short time when I had to wait years...
This song has psychedelic rock, jazz and a little bit of big band sound with those horns and piano. Masterpiece!
Lew Soloff's trumpet solo in this song is so memorable.
This album was one of my dad's first purchases when we had our first turntable, and I heard this classic song so much I tired of it. However, I love hearing it again after all these years. The fusion of music genres was eclectic at the time for me. Genius.
Thank you so much, guys.
This is my favorite track from this amazing band that I have loved ever since I was a child.
❤️
Love watching your channel when you get a song like this that us old folks know for a fact that it will blow you away. This was a hook from the get go ✌️
"Spinning Wheel" was written by vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, arranged by saxophonist Fred Lipsius, and produced by James William Guercio. In our 2015 interview with Clayton-Thomas, he explained: "I came up with the song just picking it away on a guitar when I found some chord changes I liked. As for the lyrics, everybody was getting so serious about 'The Revolution' and everything else in those days. It was just kind of a way to say, 'Lighten up people. Take it easy. It's all going to come full circle.' And it did. Ten years later, we went from 'The Revolution' to Ronald Reagan."
The "Spinning Wheel" is an intriguing metaphor for the cycles of events we go through in life. There is also carousel imagery in the song, as David Clayton-Thomas references the carousel horses in the line, "Ride the painted pony."
This was inspired by a Joni Mitchell song called "The Circle Game," where Mitchell sings about seasonal cycles and brings in the carousel with the line, "The painted ponies go up and down."
This marked the first instance of a Joni Mitchell influence in a popular song. Like Clayton-Thomas, Mitchell is from Canada, and he heard her work long before most. Mitchell didn't release her first album until 1968, but in the years prior she developed a reputation as an insightful songwriter and performer, and Clayton-Thomas was a big fan.
(Songfacts.com)
Dang I have been waiting for this!!! 💕
These guys and Chicago really knew how to use horns in a rock n roll band. BS&T had a few that rocked, but their best music was when they produced songs like "Spinning Wheel". Must reactions fome here include "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "And When I Die", "Lucrecia MacEvil", "God Bless The Child", and "Hi-De-Ho". You'll love them all.
The musicianship, writing and overall talent was what got you published.
This was one of my mother's favorite albums. I was listening to it the other day and I thought you guys would love them. Horns, piano, voice.
Love them , 70s group
I seen him in about 1990. What a voice, and the horns, WOW. Great!
Great song. Try to catch a live version, because it’s so fun to see this live.
There is soooo much more for you to discover by this band! I am thrilled that you did this! This was one of my father's favorite groups. I have very distinct memories that always come to mind when I hear this group....snippets of video replays in my mind of my dad dancing around the living room in his socks, fresh from work with his tie still on, fingers snapping and feet moving this way and that as he spun and twisted his way through the songs.
You might be interested to hear them do Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" from that same album. But if you haven't heard "You've Made Me So Very Happy", their first hit, then that should be the next one from them.
I haven't heard this song for a long time but I still remember the all the words thank you have a wonderful and happy new year to you all beautiful family 💖 💓 💖 💓 💖
These guys came out the same time as Chicago, and they both were Bands with Big Horn sections, so there was a huge rivalry for a while, until Chicago just passed them by. Blood Sweat and Tears was a really talented group, maybe more talented than Chicago. They had about a 5-year run of some really big hit songs, "Spinning Wheel" being their first hit song that started it all for them.
Such an amazing throwback to my childhood. I even got to play a version of it in marching band in my freshman year.. It was fun trying to march in 3/4 time. GREAT memories and such a GREAT song. Sigh.
This group is in Amber’s (wheel) house pun intended lol
Underrated and overlooked band! Been a favorite of mine since I was a kid in the early 70's
Good one✌️😊🌼
I have been listening to this album for as long as I can remember. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year. So I’m really glad you reacted to the album version instead of the single version which has a brief electric guitar bridge instead of the horn solo.
My favorite song on this album is “Sometimes In Winter” with Steve Katz on lead vocal.
You will need to hear Blood, Sweat & Tears live. “Sometimes In Winter” and so is “When I Die”. You get the full appreciation of David Clayton-Thomas’ stage presence.
What goes up must come down! Riding the painted pony on the Merry-Go-Round! As a kid listening to this song on the radio, I got the meaning right away. Thanks for reacting!
I love your reaction to this song and band. I saw BS&T on March 9,1970 as a Sophomore in Sacramento. What a marvelous concert of perfection live. David Clayton Thomas was such a great vocalist with a real band of professionals.